UPANIṢADS
The word "upaniṣad" means to sit down near, referring to the student who sits down at the feet of the teacher. The Upaniṣads contain the mystical teachings of the Vedas. They are referred to as vedānta, because they are placed at the end of the Vedas and because they embody the essence of the Vedic teaching. The central theme of the Upaniṣads is the supremacy of Brahman, the Absolute Reality, and the unity between Brahman and Ātman, the Essential Self.
There are 108 Upaniṣads in all, of which twelve are considered principal. The Principal Upaniṣads are the: Aitareya, Bṛhadāraṇyaka, Chāndogya, Īśā, Kaṭha, Kauṣīki, Kena, Māṇḍūkya, Muṇḍaka, Praśna, Taittirīya, and Śvetāśvatara. Most of the Upaniṣads are named for either the author, as with the Śvetāśvatara Upaniṣad, or a key word in the text, such as with the Īśā (by the Lord) and Kena (by whom) Upaniṣads. However, the significance of the name is not always clear, as with the Kaṭha and Māṇḍūkya Upaniṣads.
The Upaniṣads presented on this site are the Īśā, Kaṭha, first two chapters of the Kena, the Māṇḍūkya, Muṇḍaka, Nirālamba, Śvetāśvatara, and Tejobindu.
There are 108 Upaniṣads in all, of which twelve are considered principal. The Principal Upaniṣads are the: Aitareya, Bṛhadāraṇyaka, Chāndogya, Īśā, Kaṭha, Kauṣīki, Kena, Māṇḍūkya, Muṇḍaka, Praśna, Taittirīya, and Śvetāśvatara. Most of the Upaniṣads are named for either the author, as with the Śvetāśvatara Upaniṣad, or a key word in the text, such as with the Īśā (by the Lord) and Kena (by whom) Upaniṣads. However, the significance of the name is not always clear, as with the Kaṭha and Māṇḍūkya Upaniṣads.
The Upaniṣads presented on this site are the Īśā, Kaṭha, first two chapters of the Kena, the Māṇḍūkya, Muṇḍaka, Nirālamba, Śvetāśvatara, and Tejobindu.
